Throughout the Civi War, many Americans became intensely involved and interested in War, many of whom were very young: most under the age of eighteen, the legal enlistment age. Many children were so interested in what they thought was the fantasy of war that they desired to enlist and fight for their region of the country. Due to the massive amount of casualties on both sides, generals turned a blind eye to the rules that prohibited children from enlisting in the War. Union and Confederate alike, children began trying to enlist as early as the age of nine. Although there are no accounts of how young the youngest soldier was or how many children were involved in the war, many sources account to there being about twenty percent of soldiers who were under the legal enlistment age. As well as boys becoming soldiers, girls played a crucial role in the war. Many were trained to become nurses to help the wounded soldiers. As parents and older siblings left for war, many younger children had to take their place. The Civil War forced many young children to lose their innocence and grow up as quickly as possible.
Child Soldiers:
Child Soldiers were very common during the Civil War. Numerous children desired to become a soldier and therefore forged their age to become them. As well as true patriotism, many children were pushed by their parents, trying to find a more interesting life, or trying to escape an abusive family. Not all child soldiers were actually involved in killing and battles. Most boys were drummer boys and most girls were taught to care for soldiers as nurses. Many children were wounded in the process of war. During the Battle of Manassas, many children have been accounted to have "grown up" for their age. This battle, the first real battle of the Civil War, opened their eyes to the brutality of war rather than the fantasy they had pictured.
Similarities Of All Children
Though the hardships of the North, South and slaves were all different, they all shared the excitement that the War brought to
The Differences Between Children of the North and the South
them. Many young boys found interest in forming their own "boys' companies" that would pretend to drill just like the ones they observed in town squares. Even many girls have memories of their childhood filled with a fascination with the war. Often, many teenage boys (and in the South, girls) went off to work in ammunition factories to earn more money for their family. Many children on both sides also recall picking the lint off their clothes to bandage pretend wounds. Younger children often fundraised for their army and also collected food and supplies for the soldiers.
This young soldier was suited with "the best pair of clothes" as well as "the experience of a life time"
Children of the North
The children of the North were extremely excited about "beating the enemy". Though the war caused some economic distress such as less food, less clothing and higher prices and tax, many children of the North were not effected as much as those of the South. Due to the dense population of the North, not many children suffered the loss of a parent or older sibling. Those who did were designated many more roles that would help their younger siblings and mothers. Soon, schools began ordering text books which focused on supporting the North. The children entertained themselves with war reenactments, war games, magazines about the war and paintings that depicted heroic, confident soldiers of the North.
Boy Soldier: tried to enlist at the age of 9 but was allowed to at 11
Children of the South:
Though the children of the South tried to be optimistic about the war and excited to beat their rival, many could not be due to the effects of the Civil War. Because the war was mainly fought in the South, many children became homeless and sought safety in cliffs and caves. This did not always work, as many children who were not even directly involved in the war died due to battles near or in their home town. Due to the smaller population of the South, many more families suffered the loss of a sibling or father. As a result, many children took the places of the absent relatives and had to drop out of school. Another reason so many Southern children dropped out of school was because of financial hardships in their family. Because so many slaves were freed or escaped, by the end of the war, the South's agricultural economy was destroyed. Not only did the South lack money, but they also lacked food, which gave way to the eventual "bread riots" in which children and adults alike would rob bakeries for bread. Overall, the Southern children could not enjoy the war as much as the North did, but they instead gained more responsibility and lost their sense of childhood innocence.
Two children who were likely emancipated during the Civil War
Slave Children:
Originally, the Civil War was claimed to be a “White Man’s war” due to the fear of a slave rebellion. However, when blacks were finally allowed to fight in the Civil War, many mothers did not permit their children to fight. Many slave owners tried to bribe their slaves to enlist to fight for the Confederacy with promises of freedom and land. Many of these promises were broken. During the Civil War, many slave children were fed even less than they were before due to the tough economic times in the South. Many slaves sought refuge with Northern Whites who supported the abolition of Slavery. After the Civil War ended and slaves were set free, Many Northerners moved to the South to assist the Freedmen's Bureau, an organization which was responsible for the relief and education of freed slaves. This organization established African American schools. These schools were taught mainly by Northern teachers who supported the free slaves. Former slave children were taught enough to read and write, however, because slave owners taught their slaves that their brains were inferior, many freed slave parents did not send their children to school for fear of further brain damage or a waste of time.
How The Children Were Effected
Overall, the children of the Civil War suffered the most. Though they were extremely interested in the war, they suffered hunger, fatigue, the loss of family members and death. The children who enlisted in the war were not always as patriotic as they seemed, but instead were forced to do so by peer pressure or a false depiction of war. Throughout the war, children suffered the tough economic struggles of their family and as a consequence, the children suffered the loss of their education. Though each group of children, Northern, Southern, and slave suffered differently, they each felt the sharp loss of childhood as well as the stinging pain of a lost family member.
Girls at the time of the Civil War:
Amanda M.
A girl's life at the time of the Civil War was frightening and tedious. Most girls carried out chores and took care of their family while their fathers and brothers were at war, without much to do but work.
Carrie Berry
Carrie Berry of Atlanta, Georgia recorded in her journal that shells exploded beneath her house, causing her and her family to live in the cellar for months. She took care of her mother and baby sister and took on a completely different lifestyle. While war raged on outside her home, she cooked, cleaned, and wrote in her journal, though most passages were brief.
"Sat. Sept. 17. Mama went up to Aunties this morning and I had to keep house for her. I hemmed Sisters dress this evening. Sun. Sept 18. This has ben a dark rainy day. We had stewed chickens for dinner."
Sixteen year old Alice Williamson from Gallatin, Tennessee wrote about the occupation of Gallatin and the surrounding Union troops. She wrote almost everyday of men that were shot and her anger and hatred towards the Union.
"Apr. 26th Weather beautiful. Yanks behaving like human beings with a few exceptions. Today a Yankee officer made his appearance in the school room accompanied by a Northern being whom I supposed to be a man, as he was not a gentleman; he came to look at the church saying that he was president of a school and that six of his assistants had just arrived and was going to teach the "freedmen" He says he will have 3 or 400 scholars and will need the largest house in town. What a learned city -- or rather yankee nest -- this will be. I suppose some of us citizens will get a situation as assistant teacher in the 'Freedmens University.'"
Collaboration Project: 1) "Civil War Diary of Carrie Berry." American Civil War History Timelines Battle Map Pictures. Web. 22 May 2011. <http://www.americancivilwar.com/women/carrie_berry.html>. 2) "Alice Williamson Diary." Http:scriptorium.lib.duke.edu. Duke University. Web. 22 May 2011.
Pictures: 1) Venn Diagram: Created By Cierra Robson 2)Jones, Clay. "Civil War Kids Camp - Spot News." Blogs of Fredericksburg.com. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/spotsygovt/2011/03/15/civil-war-kids-camp/>. 3)"Today in History… March 14 — Eli Whitney Patents the Cotton Gin - Prof. Boerner's Explorations." Welcome to Our New Home Page//. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.boerner.net/jboerner/?p=17602>. 4)Other pictures supplied by WikiCommons
Children During the Civil War:
Cierra RobsonIntro:
Table of Contents
Child Soldiers:
Child Soldiers were very common during the Civil War. Numerous children desired to become a soldier and therefore
forged their age to become them. As well as true patriotism, many children were pushed by their parents, trying to find a more interesting life, or trying to escape an abusive family. Not all child soldiers were actually involved in killing and battles. Most boys were drummer boys and most girls were taught to care for soldiers as nurses.
Many children were wounded in the process of war. During the Battle of Manassas, many children have been accounted to have "grown up" for their age. This battle, the first real battle of the Civil War, opened their eyes to the brutality of war rather than the fantasy they had pictured.
Similarities Of All Children
Though the hardships of the North, South and slaves were all different, they all shared the excitement that the War brought to
them. Many young boys found interest in forming their own "boys' companies" that would pretend to drill just like the ones they observed in town squares. Even many girls have memories of their childhood filled with a fascination with the war. Often, many teenage boys (and in the South, girls) went off to work in ammunition factories to earn more money for their family. Many children on both sides also recall picking the lint off their clothes to bandage pretend wounds. Younger children often fundraised for their army and also collected food and supplies for the soldiers.
Children of the North
The children of the North were extremely excited about "beating the enemy". Though the war caused some economic distress such as less food, less clothing and higher prices and tax, many children of the North were not effected as much as those of the South. Due to the dense population of the North, not many children suffered the loss of a parent or older sibling. Those who
did were designated many more roles that would help their younger siblings and mothers. Soon, schools began ordering text books which focused on supporting the North. The children entertained themselves with war reenactments, war games, magazines about the war and paintings that depicted heroic, confident soldiers of the North.
Children of the South:
Though the children of the South tried to be optimistic about the war and excited to beat their rival, many could not be due to the effects of the Civil War. Because the war was mainly fought in the South, many children became homeless and sought safety in cliffs and caves. This did not always work, as many children who were not even directly involved in the war died due to battles near or in their home town. Due to the smaller population of the South, many more families suffered the loss of a sibling or father. As a result, many children took the places of the absent relatives and had to drop out of school. Another reason so many Southern children dropped out of school was because of financial hardships in their family. Because so many slaves were freed or escaped, by the end of the war, the South's agricultural economy was destroyed. Not only did the South lack money, but they also lacked food, which gave way to the eventual "bread riots" in which children and adults alike would rob bakeries for bread. Overall, the Southern children could not enjoy the war as much as the North did, but they instead gained more responsibility and lost their sense of childhood innocence.
Slave Children:
Originally, the Civil War was claimed to be a “White Man’s war” due to the fear of a slave rebellion. However, when blacks were finally allowed to fight in the Civil War, many mothers did not permit their children to fight. Many slave owners tried to bribe their slaves to enlist to fight for the Confederacy with promises of freedom and land. Many of these promises were broken. During the Civil War, many slave children were fed even less than they were before due to the tough economic times in the South. Many slaves sought refuge with Northern Whites who supported the abolition of Slavery.
After the Civil War ended and slaves were set free, Many Northerners moved to the South to assist the Freedmen's Bureau, an organization which was responsible for the relief and education of freed slaves. This organization established African American schools. These schools were taught mainly by Northern teachers who supported the free slaves. Former slave children were taught enough to read and write, however, because slave owners taught their slaves that their brains were inferior, many freed slave parents did not send their children to school for fear of further brain damage or a waste of time.
How The Children Were Effected
Overall, the children of the Civil War suffered the most. Though they were extremely interested in the war, they suffered hunger, fatigue, the loss of family members and death. The children who enlisted in the war were not always as patriotic as they seemed, but instead were forced to do so by peer pressure or a false depiction of war. Throughout the war, children suffered the tough economic struggles of their family and as a consequence, the children suffered the loss of their education. Though each group of children, Northern, Southern, and slave suffered differently, they each felt the sharp loss of childhood as well as the stinging pain of a lost family member.
Girls at the time of the Civil War:
Amanda M.A girl's life at the time of the Civil War was frightening and tedious. Most girls carried out chores and took care of their family while their fathers and brothers were at war, without much to do but work.
Carrie Berry
Carrie Berry of Atlanta, Georgia recorded in her journal that shells exploded beneath her house, causing her and her family to live in the cellar for months. She took care of her mother and baby sister and took on a completely different lifestyle. While war raged on outside her home, she cooked, cleaned, and wrote in her journal, though most passages were brief."Sat. Sept. 17. Mama went up to Aunties this morning and I had to keep house for her. I hemmed Sisters dress this evening.
Sun. Sept 18. This has ben a dark rainy day. We had stewed chickens for dinner."
Sixteen year old Alice Williamson from Gallatin, Tennessee wrote about the occupation of Gallatin and the surrounding Union troops. She wrote almost everyday of men that were shot and her anger and
hatred towards the Union.
"Apr. 26th Weather beautiful. Yanks behaving like human beings with a few exceptions. Today a Yankee officer made his appearance in the school room accompanied by a Northern being whom I supposed to be a man, as he was not a gentleman; he came to look at the church saying that he was president of a school and that six of his assistants had just arrived and was going to teach the "freedmen" He says he will have 3 or 400 scholars and will need the largest house in town. What a learned city -- or rather yankee nest -- this will be. I suppose some of us citizens will get a situation as assistant teacher in the 'Freedmens University.'"
Bibliography:
Information:
1(primary source))Mintz, S. "Child Soldiers." Digital History. 2007. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/children_civilwar/child_soldiers.cfm>.
2)"Civilian Life during the Civil War." Twinkle. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://twinkle.bangtech.com/american/civilian_life_during_civil_war.htm>.
3)"Children and the Civil War Summary | BookRags.com." BookRags.com | Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Book Summaries and More. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.bookrags.com/research/children-and-the-civil-war-aaw-02/>.
4) "Boys In The Civil War." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.civilwarhome.com/boysinwar.htm>.
5) "Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938 - For Teachers (Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/connections/narratives-slavery/history6.html>.
Collaboration Project:
1)
"Civil War Diary of Carrie Berry." American Civil War History Timelines Battle Map Pictures. Web. 22 May 2011. <http://www.americancivilwar.com/women/carrie_berry.html>.
2)
"Alice Williamson Diary." Http:scriptorium.lib.duke.edu. Duke University. Web. 22 May 2011.
Media
1) "YouTube - EPIC DRUMMER BOYS." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkLMo7njM5c>.
Pictures:
1) Venn Diagram: Created By Cierra Robson
2)Jones, Clay. "Civil War Kids Camp - Spot News." Blogs of Fredericksburg.com. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/spotsygovt/2011/03/15/civil-war-kids-camp/>.
3)"Today in History… March 14 — Eli Whitney Patents the Cotton Gin - Prof. Boerner's Explorations." Welcome to Our New Home Page//. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.boerner.net/jboerner/?p=17602>.
4)Other pictures supplied by WikiCommons